Frederick Ippolito takes indefinite leave from town post

Frederick Ippolito, the Oyster Bay planning and development commissioner who has been indicted on charges of evading taxes on $2 million in consulting fees, sold his restaurant, Christiano's, to Singh. Photo Credit: Newsday / Ted Phillips

Frederick Ippolito, the Oyster Bay Town planning and development commissioner charged with tax evasion after he allegedly failed to report more than $2 million in consulting fees from a town contractor, has taken a voluntary leave of absence, officials said.

Ippolito, who pleaded not guilty to the charges, requested the leave during a March 26 meeting with Oyster Bay Town Supervisor John Venditto, to focus on his legal case and on recent, unspecified health issues, town spokeswoman Marta Kane said.

Ippolito, 76, of Syosset, will use accrued sick, vacation and personal days during his leave, said Venditto, a Republican serving his ninth term. Town records show Ippolito, also a Republican, was paid $129,473 in 2013.

"It is difficult to strike an appropriate balance in a situation like this," Venditto said in a statement. "On the one hand, we all need to be mindful of the seriousness of the charges. On the other hand, we need to also be mindful that an individual is innocent until proven guilty."

Venditto said a leave of absence where Ippolito uses his accrued time "strikes that balance."

Capobianco, who previously called on the town to fire Ippolito, said it would be improper for the commissioner to remain in the post, overseeing the department's day-to-day operations, while the investigation is ongoing.

Ippolito was charged March 20 with six counts of income tax evasion. Federal prosecutors said he failed to report $2,053,500 in consulting fees from 2008 to 2013 from Carlo Lizza & Sons Paving Inc. of Old Bethpage and from an unidentified member of the Lizza family.

If convicted, Ippolito faces 5 years in prison and a fine of $250,000 on each count.

Ippolito was the town's planning and development commissioner from 1978 to 1987. He then worked for Lizza & Sons before returning to the town in 2009, court records show.

Ippolito indicated on his town financial disclosure statements that from 2009 to 2012 he was also paid by the Lizza Family Trust as a "consultant," prosecutors said.

Carlo Lizza & Sons Paving Inc. is one of largest road contractors in Nassau County and in the Town of Oyster Bay. The firm, representatives of which declined to comment, contributes heavily to candidates and elected officials from both parties, including Venditto.